Over the weekend I was under my deck spraying for bugs. When I turned around I came face to face with five to six bats hanging under the deck.
Now I don’t mind bats, but we do have an infant and I’d rather not have them that close to the front door. This is a weekend house in the woods so we’re not there very often. I’d like to find a way to get rid of the bats without harming them, mostly just a way to tell them to bugger off. Is there a safe way for both them and me that’s easy to do and will not cost much, or will I have to bring someone in?
I don’t recommend a DIY approach, on the unlikely chance one of the bats could be rabid. I would recommend calling someone it, except that most people are just going to kill the bats, which leaves the planet with fewer bug-eaters. I love anything that eats bugs! If there is a university you can contact, they have have information about a bat-catcher near you, or one that is willing to travel.
I have also seen online information about building bat houses. Maybe you could do something like that to lure them farther away from your house? I wanted to build some at our cabin but my sister in law has an unreasonable fear of bats “getting in her hair”.
My sister had a problem with bats in her attic. They called an exterminator to get rid of them and found out that they’re protected (at least in Minnesota, they are) and that the exterminator’s only advice was to wait for them to fly out then plug whatever holes they could get back into. Apparently even dime-sized holes were big enough for the bats. I think they used some ultrasonic thing to get them to leave while they plugged up the hole but I can’t verify.
The easiest solution is probably to line the underside of the deck with something that their little claws can’t get a grip on. Anything smooth would work.
Another approach would be to put up a bathouse away from the house. If it’s more attractive to them than your deck, they may move voluntarily.
I’ve given this advice before about critters under a deck: Get a packet of plumber’s smoke bombs (they are non-toxic), light one, drop it in an old coffee can, & stick it under the deck. Stand by with a hose. This is reasonably safe, but the hose is a sensible precaution. The thick coulds of smoke will drive the bats away.
I don’t get what the problem is here. Are infants allergic to bats, or something? Bats are good. They eat bugs, and they’re cute to boot. I love sitting out in my garden at dusk watching the bats circling round ans snapping up insects.
I don’t have a problem with the bats at all. I do have a problem with a group of bats a couple of feet from my front door. I don’t want a possibly sick bat to get into the house and then have a baby find it and play with it. I have been looking around and the bat sites I have seen say that you can not always tell if someone has been bitten and I don’t want to subject the baby to shots. I know it is rare to happen but it can.
I never knew there were bat houses, and there is a good place for one near the house. I don’t mind the bats, I would just rather them not right next to the door.
Let me chime in with another “please don’t hurt the bats”.
These are natures greatest bug-killers and are very cute too (I know, I know, but I think they are, I am weird like that).
I think the bat-house would be a great idea.
I loved the bats that flew around our house when I was a little kid.
We used to throw little pebbles and watch the bats swoop down on them.
The bat is one of the most intricate flying machines around and can really move.
[ sarcasm]Those bats will eat your baby. Just a little at a time. And being nocturnal, they will carry your baby’s soul up to the moon, where it will be changed into an evil little demon bat baby.
They’ll also get tangled in your wife’s hair and give her rabies. They’ll probably put an eye out too.[/sarcasm]
If you’re only there a couple weeks of the year I’d suggest leaving the bats alone and keeping an eye on the baby. They eat a lot of mosquitos, which will be a bigger nuisance and possible health problem than bats.